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For Better or For Worse
She's a wedding coordinator. He's a divorce attorney. She begins marriages. He ends them. How could these two possibly find common ground? Wendy Hartline is finally starting to settle into the single life. After a difficult season of grief following her husband's death, she's taken over the family business of coordinating memorable weddings. Life has become . . . comfortable. Then the charming and incredibly frustrating Marco Amorini opens a legal practice--specializing in divorces--right next to her wedding chapel and stirs up everything. Wendy learns that perhaps there is such a thing as second chances in this hilarious story of the pleasures and pains of new love in midlife.
298 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
9 people are currently reading
222 people want to read
About the author
Diann Hunt
39 books45 followersDiann Hunt wrote romantic comedy and humorous women's fiction targeted to Christian women of the Baby Boomer generation. She'd lived in Indiana forever, had been happily married forever, loved her family, chocolate, her friends, her dog, and, well, chocolate. Her book "For Better or For Worse" is being made into a Hallmark movie, with production beginning in November, 2013.
After a four-year battle with ovarian cancer, Diann went home to be with her Lord and Saviour just after Thanksgiving, 2013. She leaves behind a legacy of words of blessing, love for her Lord, her family, her close friends, and fans the world over who have come to know and love her and call her their friend.
After a four-year battle with ovarian cancer, Diann went home to be with her Lord and Saviour just after Thanksgiving, 2013. She leaves behind a legacy of words of blessing, love for her Lord, her family, her close friends, and fans the world over who have come to know and love her and call her their friend.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
July 8, 2008
Oiy! This book just oozed icky from the onset. I can't believe I finished it.
Wendy, is finally settling back into the swing of things after her husband dies a tragic death while mountain climbing. She has two grown children who are on their own.
Suddenly, her life is tipped upside down when her daughter comes home after her own marriage seems to be faltering and then her dad moves in. Meanwhile, she's in an pointless "relationship" with Logan, who no one (me included) is crazy about.
Left to continue on with the wedding chapel business that was set up by her late husband, Wendy finds herself at odds with who she pretends to be and who she really is. Next door, the town divorce lawyer--who is incidently hot--sets up shop in the abandoned lodge.
The book wasn't written very well. I was tired of Wendy's patronizing ways and her "pity me" attitude that ran rampant through the story. The plot was a no brainer from the beginning and there were zero surprises to keep me interested. Thrown in for good measure was a lot of God-speak. Not usually one to shy from religious undertones, this went a bit overboard for how mind-numbing the actual story was.
Wendy, is finally settling back into the swing of things after her husband dies a tragic death while mountain climbing. She has two grown children who are on their own.
Suddenly, her life is tipped upside down when her daughter comes home after her own marriage seems to be faltering and then her dad moves in. Meanwhile, she's in an pointless "relationship" with Logan, who no one (me included) is crazy about.
Left to continue on with the wedding chapel business that was set up by her late husband, Wendy finds herself at odds with who she pretends to be and who she really is. Next door, the town divorce lawyer--who is incidently hot--sets up shop in the abandoned lodge.
The book wasn't written very well. I was tired of Wendy's patronizing ways and her "pity me" attitude that ran rampant through the story. The plot was a no brainer from the beginning and there were zero surprises to keep me interested. Thrown in for good measure was a lot of God-speak. Not usually one to shy from religious undertones, this went a bit overboard for how mind-numbing the actual story was.
July 27, 2017
I tried really hard to like these characters or at least tolerate them, but I couldn't.
July 19, 2014
2.5 stars. I made it halfway through before I finally gave up. I really wanted to like it, but it just felt like it was trying too hard to be something... trying to be funny, trying to have a message... but for me it was just a miss. I felt like the characters had inconsistencies in their behaviors and I simply could not connect with Wendy at all. And the plot fell flat for me.
Had I realized this was chick lit I probably wouldn't have tried it since I'm not a big fan, but there are some I've enjoyed that are so I know that wasn't the sole influencer in my feelings about the book.
Also, the previews for the movie may have thrown me off because it's not who I'd have cast in my head for them, but again I'm not sure.
Obviously others have enjoyed this book, what books people like is such a subjective thing!
Had I realized this was chick lit I probably wouldn't have tried it since I'm not a big fan, but there are some I've enjoyed that are so I know that wasn't the sole influencer in my feelings about the book.
Also, the previews for the movie may have thrown me off because it's not who I'd have cast in my head for them, but again I'm not sure.
Obviously others have enjoyed this book, what books people like is such a subjective thing!
May 1, 2012
This was the first book I have read by Diann Hunt and I truly enjoyed it. It is one of those that is often referred to as a chicklit book. It had a serious side and a funny side in the book!
April 27, 2025
Fun and quirky, but also deals with everyday struggles in life.
August 10, 2012
This is the second book I've read by Diann Hunt and I thought it could have been a lot better. Predictable and really drawn out, this book could have been written in 100 pages. I get the sense her other books will be similar with the character chick flick drama, all big misunderstandings that couldve just been solved if people actually talked to one another, or completely on the other side of the spectrum with one character doing something inappropriate and no one calls them on it, they just start talking again later like nothing happened. Either way, everyone is just avoiding confrontation with each other all the time!
This book was a really slow read for me as it just couldn't hold my interest but I was determined to finish it as I thought it had to get better. Disappointing.
This book was a really slow read for me as it just couldn't hold my interest but I was determined to finish it as I thought it had to get better. Disappointing.
August 12, 2014
I liked the first person narrative but the attempts at humor were repeated a bit too many times. Her problems were real and the story was good - I actually cared what ended up happening. The unfortunate part is - like so many other stories - the ending was way too abrupt and completely ridiculous in comparison to the rest of the story. I also would like to know a little more detail on what happened to the main character's daughter...as the details around her experiences are very vague.
July 17, 2014
This book was so good! Unexpectedly funny and very real characters. I love how Wendy came into her own but in a realistic way, not over the top. I also appreciated an older couple! I'm so used to reading about young couples. It's just refreshing they were "mature". I already ordered more books by this author!
June 6, 2008
This was a light fluffy Christian romance that was a very quick read and enjoyable. Sure you could see the ending coming, but it was interesting to see how they interacted with each other and how their families and outside lives played a part in the storyline.
March 4, 2008
Nothing very original. Owner of a wedding chapel and a divorce attorney butt heads.
October 24, 2015
This book was nothing like I expected. I struggled with it. I felt like it jumped days without warning which made it hard to follow what was happening. Then the ending seemed to come out of nowhere.
September 10, 2022
Diann Hunt's books are so fun to read and this one did not disappoint! Wendy is finally adjusting to the empty nest and the sudden death of her husband. She's found a new rhythm and she is doing just fine. And then.. life.. her empty house is once again full.. the man she has been seeing has turned into someone she doesn't know.. she's spinning in circles trying to be all things for all people.. she's lost herself.. and in the midst of it all, an unexpected and unwanted relationship arises. Can she juggle it all? Can she make everything right for everyone? Can she keep everyone happy with her even if it means she is miserable? While I have no experienced all Wendy has and while my circumstances are not the same, I understand trying to live a life where no one is upset with you. It is exhausting and honestly, impossible. Wendy learns that lesson too and finds the freedom that God offers to His imperfect children.
October 20, 2019
The plot felt very disjointed from start to finish. The beginning conflict went on for far to long and the ending felt rushed and left me unsatisfied. The religious aspects felt forced and random. I also could not respect the main character. She was floundering in her life and not acting her age, but no one would actually point these things out to her? That is very unrealistic. When you cannot love the main character it makes it hard to want to finish the book.
January 4, 2022
This book is super cute! The storyline is easy to read and flows nicely. Its about a woman, Wendy, who owns a wedding chapel who lost her husband in an accident. Marco is a divorce attorney who buys the land next to Wendy's chapel to build a lodge. The story goes on exploring the dynamic of these different characters and their children, who are engaged. If you are looking for an easy read, I recommend this book!
April 27, 2022
By the end of the first chapter I lost any hope that this book would draw me in. It’s just not that great. The characters are incompletely developed, and Wendy, the main character, needed to be shaken. There was a dizzying series of illnesses and misfortunes thrown in—Wendy has cataplexy? How does this help move the story? I finished it because I read fast and I figured it wouldn’t kill me. Do I recommend it? Nope.
May 11, 2017
I kept finding silly errors that were just too many to ignore.
Story line was cute, worthy of 4 stars for that but I couldn't.
Story line was cute, worthy of 4 stars for that but I couldn't.
June 6, 2022
Okay story, but somewhat spoiled by very heavy-handed religiosity.
November 11, 2025
Worse. Waste. Of. Time. DNR.
January 17, 2015
This was the first book I've read by Diann Hunt and I enjoyed it. In fact, I had a hard time putting it down because I love stories about weddings.
Her main character, Wendy Hartline is a widow whose life is thrown into chaos by Marco Amorini, a notorious divorce attorney living in her town. She owns a wedding chapel with some small cabins and he opens an upscale lodge right next to it. They're not only neighbors, their children are engaged and Wendy and Marco are determined to split them up. Throw in an unexpected estranged father as her new houseguest and a pregnant daughter in the middle of a separation and Wendy's life becomes a precarious balancing act.
The story was good and was written in first person, but I was distracted by her relationship with an overbearing "boyfriend" and the constant inner dialogue. At times Wendy seems lily-livered and that annoyed me. However, it did provide insight about widowhood and the emotions a person might go through after losing a spouse.
The ending was good though and redeemed some of the minor annoyances for me. I'd definitely read another book by Diann Hunt, given the opportunity.
Her main character, Wendy Hartline is a widow whose life is thrown into chaos by Marco Amorini, a notorious divorce attorney living in her town. She owns a wedding chapel with some small cabins and he opens an upscale lodge right next to it. They're not only neighbors, their children are engaged and Wendy and Marco are determined to split them up. Throw in an unexpected estranged father as her new houseguest and a pregnant daughter in the middle of a separation and Wendy's life becomes a precarious balancing act.
The story was good and was written in first person, but I was distracted by her relationship with an overbearing "boyfriend" and the constant inner dialogue. At times Wendy seems lily-livered and that annoyed me. However, it did provide insight about widowhood and the emotions a person might go through after losing a spouse.
The ending was good though and redeemed some of the minor annoyances for me. I'd definitely read another book by Diann Hunt, given the opportunity.
June 29, 2015
On Friday night, my family settled in to watch the movie based on this book. On Saturday, while cleaning my office, I found the book! The movie didn't work for me; however, the book did. The book only took two days to read :) Awesome.
Diann did a great job of making the heroine real, with conflicts and real-life emotions. I didn't like Logan a bit and Marco would have scared me off, but I liked the way Marco didn't allow the heroine to scare off.
I'd love to know if the geese were from a real-life event.
I wish there were another book so I could find out what happens with Brooke and Kevin.
Ending: book a million times better than the movie.
Diann did a great job of making the heroine real, with conflicts and real-life emotions. I didn't like Logan a bit and Marco would have scared me off, but I liked the way Marco didn't allow the heroine to scare off.
I'd love to know if the geese were from a real-life event.
I wish there were another book so I could find out what happens with Brooke and Kevin.
Ending: book a million times better than the movie.
June 17, 2008
Okay this was a quick read and had some redeeming points in it. But the overall story wasn't as well written as some of my favorite authors. I also felt like the way the story ended was kind of abrupt. Like one minute they weren't talking, next minute they are meeting to sign a deal on the land, and the next they are making up. It just didn't flow all that well or show both sides in those moments. Also I didn't like the way the story line for the daughter ended because there was a lot left up in the air. Like I said it wasn't horrible but not my favorite either.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2009
True rating is probably at 2.5 stars. I did like it, however it WAS a little predictable and started getting way too religious for me toward the end. Ultimately went with three stars because it actually was kind of funny.
While I don't mind occassional references to religion, I am not interested in reading about people reconnecting with their god. Gotta say: if the religion was pushed that hard early on, I would have never finished reading the book. That all being said - it is classified as a Christian book...
While I don't mind occassional references to religion, I am not interested in reading about people reconnecting with their god. Gotta say: if the religion was pushed that hard early on, I would have never finished reading the book. That all being said - it is classified as a Christian book...
July 28, 2012
This was a wonderful story about self discovery and truly moving on. There is also a story about forgiveness.
There are fun moments that will make you laugh as well as some very touching moments that will make you cry. (Or at least I laughed and cried)
The first person who who leaves me a message on either Goodreads or Facebook with your mailing address I'll send you the copy of this book.
There are fun moments that will make you laugh as well as some very touching moments that will make you cry. (Or at least I laughed and cried)
The first person who who leaves me a message on either Goodreads or Facebook with your mailing address I'll send you the copy of this book.
August 2, 2012
This book was a quick read, but nothing awe-inspiring. Some of the drama that was set up seemed way too over the top in some places. Also I just didn't get the main character relationship with her hang around "friend", complete jerk who wanted more than what she was willing to give and constantly in her space. Definitely someone to have stick around.
July 20, 2014
I read this book because Colleen Coble mentioned the movie was coming out. It is my first Diann Hunt novel. I really enjoyed her style of writing and could relate to the characters more than I care to admit. It is the first book I have read in a while that made me look deep inside for the motivation behind my actions. Well done, Diann. I see why so many miss you.
May 17, 2016
I read this as part of the book/movie combo project that my sister and I are doing together. Several things bothered me about this book. Wendy let people walk all over her ... even keeping this the way her husband wanted them after his death when it wasn't what she wanted. Wendy and Marcus meddled into their adult children's lives like helicopter parents and have it almost backfire on them.
April 8, 2009
A fun read. This is the second Diann Hunt book I've read and I really like this author. She creates endearing but very realistic characters. A Christian fictional book, that isn't preachy but faith based.
April 26, 2015
Good story of a wedding planner and a divorce attorney that get together. This was a christian author and I liked that in the story they went to church, prayed before dinner, and talk about seeking God.
January 23, 2008
I liked this one alright...good escapism if nothing else.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews